What is this small hose by the bellows 2001 Alpha 1?

[Big6ft6]

Hi All,

Would someone be so kind as to help me ID the leaking hose near my bellows in this picture? 2001 Alpha 1 drive. This is my first stern drive so still learning this stuff. Got home from the lake today and noticed a small blue puddle under the lower unit and saw it slowly oozing from this hose.

I'm sure this has been covered in other posts, but not knowing what it's called I've not had success searching for it.

 

[alldodge]

That is the gear lube hose. It connects to the lube bottle inside the boat. Best check the drive for water contamination

 

[Big6ft6]

Thanks AllDodge! So is this the same gear lube I that I would fill through the screws in the lower unit? Why does a stern drive need to connect that to a bottle inside the boat? With outboards it just stays in the lower unit no bottle or hoses involved, I assume there is a reason for the extra complexity, why is a stern drive different?

thanks for the education!

 

[Bt Doctur]

another bell and whistle from the factory. Your right , outboards and the older mercruisers dont have it. and it why they fail, lack of maintence. The res helps prevent that. Can you eliminate it, yes. Remove the drive and the dribble valve and reinstall with a new gasket with the solid material over the hole. Having the oi line make you an Alpha GEN II drive